KIGALI - Rwandans began voting Monday in a presidential election which incumbent Paul Kagame is expected to win by a landslide.

Polling stations in the capital Kigali opened at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) sharp, an AFP correspondent reported.

Kagame, 52, has ruled the small central African country since his rebel movement stopped the genocide in 1994 and won the 2003 presidential poll with 95 percent of the vote.

He is facing three candidates who all supported him seven years ago. More virulent opposition leaders have faced arrest or seen their parties fail to secure official registration and were unable to run.

The Rwandan leader`s supporters say he has ensured stability since the genocide against the minority Tutsis by Hutu extremists while his critics argue his regime has turned into a dictatorship.

BDST: 11.50 HRS, August 09, 2010